TUB OF BUTTER DXB Will this Al Manara café become your new goto lunch spot?

he name Tub Of Butter is a bit misleading, conjuring up images of greasy, calorific dishes, when this restaurant in Al Manara is perfect for a healthy lunch.

Located next to the Metropolitan Hotel, it’s surprisingly big, with a shopping section for picking up the fancier sort of groceries (think imported pastas and sauces) and a children’s play area stocked with toys and games. If you’re dining solo, there are books and magazines to keep you entertained. It’s on the same road as Lime Tree Café, and has a similarly relaxed, family-friendly vibe.

The menu is Mediterranean-influenced, with pizzas, pastas and risottos, as well as salads and tartines. The salads are more like main dishes. We recommend the lemon-grilled salmon (Dhs68) with pickled shallots, green beans, sesame seeds and feta. The fish was well cooked and the beans added crunch alongside the creaminess of the feta. Also try the

tAngus sirloin (Dhs76), with portabello mushrooms, parmesan, spinach and a balsamic reduction. Keep in mind, they cook it slightly pinker than requested. For desserts, there’s a menu as well as a separate bakery with drool-worthy treats on display. We loved the Valrhona chocolate fondant for two (Dhs64), the perfect combo of rich, gooey sauce and fudgy goodness. You could make it a fondant for one.

Al Manara neighbourhood, Sheikh Zayed Road, just off Al Thanya Street, Dubai, daily 7am to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3438884. Metro: First Gulf Bank. tubofbutter.com